royal navy, written by Andrew Cherry, and embodied in Dibdin’s “Naval
and National Songs,” and the other by a homely mariner, named, it is
said, John Williams. Both songs may have taken their origin from the
vessel spoken of above. Be this as it may, without doubt, one or the
other was written to record the distress and struggles of the ship
which conveyed the artificers to Gibraltar.
The incidents of the affair related in the first edition of this
history were made to correspond with the seaman’s effusion, as there
were reasons at the time for believing it referred to the vessel with
the recruits on board; but, as on a closer review, there are doubts
about its application, the details given in the former edition are
omitted in this, leaving the question to be solved at a future day.
If the ballad of the seaman have reference to the ship in which the
artificers sailed to the Rock, it differs in two known points from the
facts of its voyage. The “Caroline” is the ship of the song, and she
is said to have _sailed from Spithead on the fourteenth day of April_,
whereas the party of recruits _sailed_ apparently _from Scotland, and
positively_ landed, or, to use the official word, “_joined_,” _at
Gibraltar on the 16th April_.
The seaman’s “Bay of Biscay, O!” is worked up in pure Grub-street
doggrel; but bad as it is, it has been rendered worse, particularly in
the last verse, by the tampering of some grossly vulgar hand. In the
lapse of years the precise wording of that Catnach composition has
probably been lost, and the version that exists, filled up by the
imperfections of tradition, may have had its dates and places
disturbed. In a printed form the ballad, seemingly, cannot be
obtained.
If the differences just shown be considered fatal to the relationship
between the sailor’s song and the vessel noticed in the narrative,
then Cherry’s very popular ballad belongs to the history of the
sappers and miners.
-----
In January and February, 1792, the Woolwich company was employed at the
Tower of London, constructing an earthen battery for four guns in front
of the gates, and a wooden battery for four guns, projecting from the
coping of the wall of the fortress facing the Minories, to sweep the
ditch and the hill. These defensive measures were undertaken by Captain
Holloway of the engineers, sergeant John Watson being the overseer, and
were intended to oppose any attack on the Tower which might be attempted
by the turbulent Jacobins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
Royal Military Artificers Plate V.
UNIFORM 1792 Printed by M & N Hanhart.
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Prussian system of tactics being lately introduced into the army, it
was ordered that a union of corps should take place to ascertain its
efficiency. An encampment for the purpose was formed on Bagshot Heath,
early in July, under the Duke of Richmond, the Master-General of the
Ordnance. The regiments present were the 2nd, 3rd, 14th, and 29th Foot;
two regiments of light dragoons, two battalions of artillery, and one
company of military artificers, made up of men from the Woolwich,
Chatham, Portsmouth, and Gosport, companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Moncrief, royal engineers. The sergeant-majors of these four companies
were present. A large quantity of intrenching implements and tradesmen’s
tools accompanied the party. The encampment lasted for about a month,
the troops marching from one position to another, and manœuvring in a
body, as if in actual warfare. During this time there were three grand
field-days and two _sham_ battles; at the whole of which his Majesty was
present, as also, on some occasions, were the Prince of Wales and the
Dukes of York and Gloucester. The company of artificers manœuvred
with the troops when not otherwise required; but more generally they
were employed in making bridges over small rivulets for the passage of
the troops, throwing up occasional earthworks, as well as mining and
constructing wooden redoubts. One of the mines was sprung on the 4th
August, and created quite a spectacle. It raised the earth in a solid
mass about thirty feet in diameter, throwing its contents to a
considerable distance. Another mine was exploded on the 7th August,
under one of the advanced redoubts, with equal success; but the third
and last mine was the largest, and almost amazing in its effects. Of
this mine some particulars have been preserved. Upon a round hill was
erected one of Colonel Moncrief’s square wooden redoubts, that the
results of the mine under it might be better discerned. The artificers
broke ground against the side of the hill, 152 feet from the redoubt,
and about 20 feet below the summit of the hill. The first gallery was
driven 112 feet in length, about 3 feet wide, and 3½ feet high, from
whence commenced a turning 22 inches wide and 3 feet high, which
stretched under the redoubt. A second turning of 6 feet was made for the
chamber, into which was put a wooden box of gunpowder lined with pitched
canvas. The quantity of powder used was 72 lbs., and was exploded by
means of a wooden trough containing a canvas pipe filled with powder.
When fired, the whole redoubt was lifted up about 40 feet, and
disappeared in fragments, dust, and smoke, leaving a large chasm where
it stood, nearly 40 feet wide and 20 feet deep. It was a magnificent
sight, and called forth the spontaneous acclamations of the throng that
witnessed it, and the praises of the Duke of Richmond.[86] These were
the _first field services_ in which any of the military artificers had
been employed. They returned to their respective stations about the 8th
August.[87]
-----
Footnote 86:
For full information concerning these experimental operations and
manœuvres, see the ‘Public Advertiser’ for July 9th, August 7th,
and August 10th, 1792.
Footnote 87:
To show how interested and considerate the Duke of Richmond was, in
even trivial matters connected with the corps, it may be mentioned
that on the 28th September, 1792, he ordered that six married private
labourers, who had been at Bagshot Camp under his command, should each
be paid half-a-guinea as a donation for the inconvenience and expense
they were subjected to in being absent from their families.
-----
This year the black felt round hat superseded the cocked hat. The
drummers' livery lace was a mixture of black, red, and yellow
worsted—the Ordnance device was not woven in it as formerly. It was sewn
on the coats in the same style as the privates' lace. Worsted wings of
the three colours intermixed were now worn by the drummers for the first
time. The quality of the cloth in all ranks was somewhat deteriorated
this year. Plate V.
To suit the seasons the working dress was considerably altered. In
summer a plain raven duck jacket was substituted for the long frock of
1787. The duck waistcoat for summer was abolished. In winter a blue
jacket with black cuffs and collar was worn, precisely similar in cut
and make to the duck jacket. With this jacket a flannel waistcoat was
worn, and serge trowsers or pantaloons of the same form or style as the
original pantaloons. To the “Queen’s Bounty,” consisting of a pair of
serge breeches and an under serge waistcoat, was added a second serge
waistcoat. The shirts were now worn quite plain in front; the hair
continued to be queued; and the sergeants and corporals to be
undistinguished in rank in the working dress. Plate VI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
Royal Military Artificers Plate VI.
WORKING DRESS 1794 Printed by M & N Hanhart.
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1793.
War with France—Artificers demanded for foreign service—Consequent
effects—Detachment to West Indies—Fever at Antigua—Detachment to
Flanders—Siege of Valenciennes—Waterdown Camp—Reinforcement to
Flanders—Siege of Dunkirk—Nieuport—Another reinforcement to
Flanders—Toulon—Private Samuel Myers at Fort Mulgrave—Formation of
four companies for service abroad—Establishment and strength of corps.
Louis XVI. having been dragged to the scaffold and beheaded, the event
became the subject of grave consideration in the British Cabinet,
resulting in the dismissal of the French ambassador in London, and in
the declaration of war by the Convention against Great Britain.
Immediately following this publication of hostilities, British troops
were sent to Holland to co-operate with those of the Stadtholder against
the common enemy, as well to the West Indies for the reduction of the
French settlements there.
The new position into which England was thrown by the declaration of
war, gave prominence to a feature in the royal military artificers,
which had almost been lost sight of;—that was, the liability of the men
to serve in any part of the world wherever their services might be
required. Although every care was taken to prevent misconception on this
point, by obtaining from every recruit a signed agreement, expressive of
his willingness to comply with this condition, still, it was regarded by
all, as a mere formal arrangement, never to be acted upon; and in this
notion they were afterwards strengthened by the fact, that when
candidates were desired for service at Gibraltar, none were sent there
unless with their own free consent. Now, however, their forgotten
agreements were shown to be binding, and, accordingly, men were demanded
from the English companies for active service in Flanders and the West
Indies.
As may be supposed, the order occasioned no little surprise and regret,
as at this period, the military artificers were living under
circumstances of the most favourable character—treated indeed more like
citizens than soldiers. Many were married and had families; some few had
property in land and houses; and all, or nearly all, had profitable
engagements in civil life, which they were permitted by their officers
to follow, after the demands of the service had been attended to. To
avoid therefore the chance of being separated from such advantages,
several obtained their discharges by providing substitutes at
considerable cost, whilst a far greater number took the very
dishonourable alternative of deserting. During the year 1793, the
desertions were, perhaps, more in number than in any other year since
the formation of the corps.
The Plymouth company was called upon to furnish one corporal and
seventeen private miners for the service of the Engineer department in
the West Indies, who, embarking in February, in due time, arrived at
Grenada. Divided between that island and Antigua, they had scarcely
commenced their duties before the unhealthiness of the climate began to
be felt among them. Fever, the prevailing scourge of the islands, seized
them, and ere the close of the year, all, except private William
Trevethick, had died! He survived his comrades about two and a half
years; and with his decease was completed the extermination, by fever,
of the first foreign detachment of the corps.
At Antigua, it should be mentioned, that the malady was conveyed on
shore through the unconscious imprudence of one of the party. He had
gone on board a vessel called the ‘Experiment,’ which had just arrived
in English Harbour in great distress, having lost nearly all her hands
by fever. Of the existence of the disease in the ship the artificer was
not aware, and he slept in a blanket belonging to one of the dead men.
Seized with the disorder, he died in a few hours, and his wearing
apparel and blanket, being taken to the Ordnance quarters as his
property, the infection was thus communicated to the rest of the
detachment; next to the artillery, and from them it spread to the 31st
regiment, committing fearful ravages in its course.[88]
-----
Footnote 88:
Southey’s ‘Chron., Hist. West Indies,’ iii., p. 72.
Five non-commissioned officers, 30 artificers, 50 labourers, and 1
drummer; total 86, collected from the different stations and formed into
a company at Woolwich, under Captain Gother Mann, R.E., embarked at the
royal arsenal on the 16th of March, to join the army in the Low
Countries under the Duke of York, taking with them an abundant
assortment of intrenching and tradesmen’s tools. Most of the men had
been encamped, in 1792, at Bagshot Heath, and were in some measure
acquainted with the art of field fortification and military mining.
Colonel Moncrief, who had greatly distinguished himself during the
American war, was appointed chief engineer to the expedition.
Of the company’s landing, and its early services in Holland, nothing is
known, but at the siege of Valenciennes it played an important part. All
the non-commissioned officers, and most of the more skilful of the
miners, acted as foremen, and from 300 to 400 men were frequently placed
under the executive charge of one military artificer. Those of the
company not considered fit for overseers, were distributed singly among
the working parties to stimulate them by their example to equal zeal and
exertion. In the more difficult services of the siege, or when occasion
required, the labourers, miners, and artificers, of the company worked
in twos or in greater numbers. The working party from the line was
seldom less than 14,000 a day.
In the final assault of the fortress, on the 25th of July, a portion of
the company under Captain Sutherland, R.E., was attached to the left
column appointed to attack the salient angle of the ravelin of the
hornwork. Three globes of compression which had been pushed under the
works to be stormed, were exploded at short intervals, after nine
o’clock, with complete success. Breaches being thus formed for the
columns to enter the works, they did so with great ardour and forced the
enemy to fly into the fortress. While these external operations were in
course of accomplishment, the miners bravely rushed from the ditch into
the enemy’s subterranean galleries, took the workmen in them, and saved
the mine from being sprung. To these underground manœuvres and the
promptitude and gallantry of the detachment of artificers and line
workmen in preventing the explosion of the enemy’s mines, the fall of
Valenciennes was chiefly indebted. It capitulated on the 28th of July.
Sir James Murray, in a despatch, dated 26th July, 1793, thus writes—“A
detachment of the company of artificers, under Captain Sutherland,
accompanied the column to the ravelin of the hornwork, and performed the
duty allotted to them with great activity and resolution.” One
labourer—private Robert Freeman—was killed.[89]
-----
Footnote 89:
‘London Gazette Extraordinary,’ August 1, 1793.
-----
General Dundas, about this period, introduced the system of drill so
long distinguished by his name; and to test its efficiency a camp was
formed on the 1st of July, at Waterdown, under the Duke of Richmond. The
troops, both horse and foot, numbered 7,000. To this camp was attached,
by the Duke’s order, four non-commissioned officers, thirty-six
privates, and one drummer of the military artificers, under Lieutenant
George Bridges, R.E., who took with them a proportion of field
implements and artificers' tools. For three weeks, the season being
exceedingly fine, the drill was briskly carried on; but was succeeded by
an interval of idleness and discomfort occasioned by heavy and
continuous rain. On the 4th of August, the troops moved to Ashdown
Forest, where they manœuvred for a week and finally marched to
Brighton: there they drilled for a fortnight, producing some grand
military displays in the presence of the Prince of Wales, and returned
to their stations on the 22nd of August. In the purely military
evolutions of the camp the artificers took no part; but when the troops
were moving they always preceded them to construct temporary bridges
over the rivulets and ditches that intercepted the march, and to cut
away obstacles to afford an easier road for the passage of the
artillery. The materials for the bridges were cut on the spot, formed
into faggots, and hastily thrown over the streams in view of the troops.
At Brighton, the party was daily occupied in bridge-making, and became
very expert in that description of field service.[90]
-----
Footnote 90:
During the formation of one of the bridges, Mrs. Fitzherbert (who had
paid a visit to the Prince of Wales at Brighton) was riding by alone.
Sergeant John Johnston, who was in charge of the party, recognizing
the favourite, very politely touched his cap in compliment to her, and
she immediately pulled up. After asking a variety of questions
concerning the work, she praised the men for their exertions, and
desired that each should receive an extra day’s pay. For this purpose
she gave the sergeant sufficient money, and taking a note of his name,
commended him for his civility and promised to remember him. Very
shortly after he received the offer of an ensigncy in a regiment in
the West Indies, and sailing thither in November, received his
commission in the 29th Foot, 1st May, 1796. It was supposed that Mrs.
Fitzherbert, true to her promise, had exerted her influence and
obtained this appointment for him. George Ross, the other sergeant
present with the party, was commissioned as Lieutenant in the
Carnarvon Militia, in October, 1796.
-----
A few days previous to the dispersion of the camp, the Duke of Richmond
ordered another selection of four non-commissioned officers and
ninety-eight artificers and labourers, to be made from the English
companies to reinforce the corps in Flanders; and in order that the
party should be formed of the most efficient men, his Grace desired as
many as could be spared to be taken for the service from the Brighton
detachment. To press as lightly as possible upon individual interests,
volunteering was freely allowed, and the remainder were obtained by
casting lots. The companies at Woolwich, Portsmouth, and Gosport, were
also required to provide their quota; and being collected at
head-quarters, they sailed late in August, and in a few days arrived at
Ostend. With this reinforcement, the military artificers in the Low
Countries amounted to 7 non-commissioned officers, 41 artificers, 104
labourers, and 1 drummer; total 153.
Immediately on landing, they were marched to join the company then
before Dunkirk, and were employed in the operations for the reduction of
that fortress until the 7th of September, when the Duke of York was
compelled to abandon his position. On returning to the Artillery Park,
the artificers exerted themselves in spiking all the guns that could not
be carried with the army and in disabling their carriages, as well as in
throwing about 500 barrels of gunpowder into the river and destroying
nearly all the intrenching tools. In this siege, three artificers were
killed—privates William Drummond, John Fairbairn, and John Wilson; and
one was missing—private Thomas Howell; but of the number wounded, no
record can be found. Colonel Moncrief, the chief engineer, was
dangerously wounded in repulsing a sortie by the enemy on the 6th of
September, and died a few days after at Ostend, where he was interred
under the flagstaff by some of his own company.
A portion of the corps was employed in October in the defence of
Nieuport, but in what manner cannot now be ascertained. Indeed, from the
paucity of information, either verbal or documentary, rendering it
impracticable to trace, with anything like distinctness, the services
and movements of the military artificers during the remainder of this
and the subsequent campaigns in the Low Countries, unsatisfactory gaps
will necessarily appear in this narrative at times, when the most
interesting details might have been expected.
Whilst the siege of Nieuport was progressing, Sir Charles Grey with his
expedition arrived at Ostend, and learning the critical situation of the
garrison determined to relieve it; but no sooner had he made
arrangements for doing so, than the enemy retired and left the fortress
and the field in quiet possession of the allies. To Sir Charles Grey’s
force was attached 2 non-commissioned officers and 28 artificers, under
Colonel Elias Durnford, royal engineers, drafted from England, with
which number the corps in Flanders was augmented to 182 of all ranks.
Winter setting in soon after, and the strife in the Low Countries being
suspended for the season, a company was recalled from thence, and, on
arrival at Spithead, sailed with the fleet for active service in the
West Indies.
In September, a detachment of 1 sergeant—Edward Smith—2 corporals, and
about 20 privates, were selected from Captain Nepean’s company at
Gibraltar, and sailed with the armament under General O’Hara for Toulon
on board H.M. ships ‘Egmont’ and ‘Terrible.’[91] The officers of
engineers with the party were Captain Nepean and Lieutenant De Butts. On
landing, the men were detached in twos and threes to the different
points of defence around Toulon; and their duties consisted in
directing, under the general superintendence of their officers, the
several working parties employed in constructing the batteries, &c. In
the various actions and operations at this place, the detachment was
more or less engaged, and “all were most zealous, active, and
distinguished in their several capacities.” Some were wounded; and in
the desperate defence of Fort Mulgrave, three were killed.
-----
Footnote 91:
Private Joshua Cook, of the Woolwich company, was sent to Toulon as
orderly to Colonel D’Aubant, royal engineers, and served in that
capacity in Toulon and Corsica until the Colonel returned with him to
England.
-----
At this fort, private Samuel Myers, who had previously served at the
siege of Gibraltar, was conspicuous in his exertions under Lieutenant
John Duncan, royal artillery, assistant engineer. At one of the guns all
the artillerymen were either killed or disabled, for the post was a
dangerous one; and the gun was consequently silent, though in a position
to do much service. Observing this, Myers, having given general
instructions to those who were under him as to the manner in which they
were to perform their work, repaired with some volunteers to the battery
and manned the gun. For a considerable time he laid and fired it himself
with a precision and effect that checked the fierceness of the enemy’s
cannonade, and attracted the notice of General Dundas. Highly approving
of the zeal and gallantry of the self-constituted gunner, the General
made him a corporal on the spot, and would have honoured him with a
higher rank, only it was found that the custom of the corps did not
admit of this distinction being conferred. Throughout the remaining
period of the defence, Myers divided his attention between this gun and
the works, attending to both with an ardour and fearlessness that gained
him much praise. Early in the next year he was killed in Corsica.
Two of the English companies out of six having already been sent abroad,
and the nature of our relations with France rendering it highly probable
that more would be demanded, the Duke of Richmond represented to his
Majesty the benefit that would result to the service, if a corps of
artificers and labourers were formed expressly for employment abroad.
His Grace the more readily recommended this measure, as the various
stations from which detachments were sent were compelled to hire civil
tradesmen to supply their places, at wages considerably higher than the
estimates warranted; and whilst it checked improvement in the labourers,
which his Grace was anxious to see developed, it also crippled, in some
degree, the general efficiency of the companies. Concurring, therefore,
in his Grace’s proposition, His Majesty granted a warrant under date the
11th September, 1793, for raising a corps of royal military artificers
and labourers, to consist of four companies and to be distributed as
follows:—
Flanders 2 companies
West Indies 1 ”
Upper Canada 1 ”
The command and composition of the companies were to be similar in every
respect to the English companies; they were to be stationary in the
countries where they were appointed to serve; and the men were to
receive the like advantages in pay, allowances, and clothing. A distinct
position would seem to have been given to these foreign companies by the
warrant, but they nevertheless, though designated _a corps_, were
comprehended with the English companies in one united body, and depended
upon the latter companies for the maintenance of their strength and
efficiency. Such, however, it may be observed, was not the case with the
companies at Gibraltar, which yet remained a separate and independent
body, though differing from the home and foreign companies only in
non-essentials of a local character.
The warrant just alluded to does not appear to have been carried out in
the manner intended. Instead of sending a reinforcement to Flanders to
complete the companies there to the authorized establishment, one
company was withdrawn from thence and sent to the West Indies; while as
regarded the latter station, in addition to the company ordered, a party
also embarked with it, forming, with the detachment already in those
islands, the nucleus of a second company. The total number of artificers
and labourers in Flanders, after this change, was 82 of all ranks, and
in the West Indies 126. On what ground this reversionary alteration was
adopted is not precisely known; but it may reasonably be assigned to the
pressing appeals from the West Indies for more men, and the inactive
position of affairs in the Low Countries permitting it to be effected
without detriment to the service. The company for Canada was never
embodied, though the idea of forming it was cherished until December
1798, when it was abandoned.
At the end of the year the establishment and strength of the corps were
as under:—
Home companies 600
Foreign companies 400
Total 1000 establishment
——
Strength 588
——
Wanting to complete 412
====
1794—1795.
Working dress—Company sails for West Indies—Martinique—Spirited
conduct of a detachment
there—Guadaloupe—Mortality—Toulon—Flanders—Reinforcement to company
there—Return of the company—Works at Gravesend—Irregularities in the
corps—Causes—Redeeming qualities—Appointment of Regimental Adjutant
and Sergeant-major—Consequences—Woolwich becomes the
head-quarters—Alteration in working dress.
This year the working dress of the corps was considerably modified. The
raven-duck frock was succeeded by a plain round blue jacket for winter,
and a raven-duck jacket for summer. The colour of the working hat was
changed for the privates from black to white; and the corporals and
sergeants were distinguished from the inferior ranks by a band of gold
lace round the pole of the hat at the bottom. See Plate VI.
The company from Flanders under Colonel Elias Durnford, royal engineers,
intended for service in the West Indies, rendezvoused for a time at
Spithead. While there, every care was taken to make it as efficient for
active duty as possible; and several men who were suffering from the
fatigues of the sieges of Dunkirk and Nieuport, were accordingly
re-embarked and their places supplied by others from the Portsmouth and
Gosport companies. After being provided with the necessary field
equipment, the company sailed with the fleet from Spithead on the 3rd
November, 1793, and arrived at Barbadoes the 6th January, 1794. Its
strength on landing was ninety-four of all ranks, including its
sergeant-major—Matthew Hoey.[92]
-----
Footnote 92:
Served seven years in the Royal Marines. Enlisted in the corps April
28, 1788, and was present in almost every action and capture which
took place in the West Indies up to the year of his decease, which
occurred at Barbadoes, July 14, 1810. Few non-commissioned officers
had a more stirring career, or greater chances, by his prizes,
employments, and successful speculations, of acquiring wealth. Much he
gained and much he spent. He had his horses and his servants. Costly
ornaments he wore with eastern profusion, and the hilt of his rapier,
and the mountings of his scabbard, were of silver. Indeed it requires
a couplet from Pope to do him anything like justice.
“A radiant baldrick o’er his shoulders tied
Sustain’d the sword that glitter’d at his side.”
-----
From Barbadoes the company proceeded with the expedition under General
Sir Charles Grey and Admiral Sir John Jervis to Martinique; and having
landed, commenced and completed, during the night of the 10th February,
the erection of the required batteries on Mount Matherine against Pigeon
Island. On the surrender of this island on the morning of the 11th, a
portion of the company, under Lieutenants Fletcher and Durnford, royal
engineers, was formed in line with a brigade of the royal artillery and
a part of the 70th regiment, to protect the stores then landing, and to
support the left of the army in the attack upon the heights of Souririe.
The post was soon carried; and the entire company subsequently
participated very essentially in the siege of Fort Bourbon. After a
month’s unceasing exertion before that fort, it was captured on the 25th
March, and Martinique then became the prize of Britain. In noticing the
services of the company, Sir Charles Grey, in his despatch of 25th
March, writes:—“Colonel Durnford, with the corps of engineers, have also
a claim to my warmest approbation for their exertions in placing and
constructing the batteries.” The casualties were one killed—private
William Simpson, on the 11th February at Pigeon Island—and three
wounded.[93]
-----
Footnote 93:
‘London Gazette Extraordinary,’ April 17th and 22nd, 1794.
-----
After the successful attack on Souririe, corporal James Kerr of the
royal military artificers, and a detachment of the company under his
orders, were employed on field duty at noon-day in front of the army. A
very superior force of the enemy attempted to surprise them, but as soon
as they perceived their danger, they retired and defended themselves in
so steady, spirited, and soldierlike a manner, as to command the
admiration of many officers and others.
Nearly the whole of the company were subsequently employed in the
reduction of the Islands of St. Lucia and Guadaloupe; but what services
were rendered by them in those captures have not been recorded.
Sir Charles Grey, having succeeded in the enterprise with which he was
intrusted, left Major-General Dundas in command at Guadaloupe and made
arrangements to return home. The fever peculiar to the country, soon
afterwards made its appearance in the island and the General died.
Taking advantage of this event and the daily increasing sickness, the
French rose against the British and retook Fort Fleur d’Epée. Sir
Charles Grey, hearing of the disaster and anticipating its consequences,
returned with all haste to Guadaloupe and resumed the command of the
troops. At this time the company was divided into almost equal
proportions at each of the subjugated islands, to assist in carrying on
the various works. Thirty-one non-commissioned officers and men had been
left at Guadaloupe on its capture under Lieutenants Dowse and Durnford,
royal engineers; but at the period of the outbreak only twenty-one men
were present, ten having already died of the fever.
At Guadaloupe the military artificers were employed in the repairs of
magazines and barracks, and in the construction of field works at
Basseterre: subsequently they superintended the erection of batteries,
&c., against Point à Pitre in the endeavours to recover Grandeterre; but
as all attempts to regain this branch of the island were now abandoned,
the detachment retreated to Berville with the army for the purpose of
preventing Basseterre falling into the hands of the enemy. Here the
artificers were engaged in various works for the defence of the camp,
and shared in repulsing the three attacks made on the position in
September and October. By climate, fatigue, and privation, their numbers
gradually dwindled away; and when the post was captured on the 7th
October, only ten men were living. Six of these were taken
prisoners,[94] with Lieutenant Durnford of the engineers; and the other
four, under Lieutenant Evatt, R.E., served at the defence of Fort
Matilda from the 14th October to the 10th December, the date of its
evacuation.[95] During that protracted struggle, the services of these
four men, especially sergeant John Morris and private Samuel Bowes, were
found to be particularly useful in every respect. Such was the opinion
of Lieutenant Evatt, who, fifty years after, also afforded a general
testimony to the merits of the company, by stating that “wherever their
services were required they were ever conspicuously forward.”
-----
Footnote 94:
Privates William Burrell, John Clark, Abraham Mayhead, Robert
Torrince, William Fleming, and Thomas Wagg. Four of the number soon
died; and the two first, on being released, joined the remnant of the
company at St. Domingo on the 18th April, 1796.
Footnote 95:
‘London Gazette,’ 13751. 10-14 February, 1795.
-----
The yellow fever continued its ravages throughout the year with
frightful violence, and carried off more than half of the company. In
May the sickness was very general among the artificers. That month
twenty-five died; and of the survivors, very few were found sufficiently
effective for the service of the works. In June, the party at St. Lucia,
which so far had escaped the prevailing scourge, was removed to
Martinique to hasten the restoration of Fort Bourbon. But little
advantage, however, was obtained by this arrangement, as nearly the
whole of the men were immediately seized by the sickness. At the close
of the year sixty-five non-commissioned officers and privates had died;
of whom forty-two were at Martinique and twenty-three at Guadaloupe; as
also Colonel Durnford, Captain Chilcot, and Lieutenants Dowse and Lawson
of the royal engineers. The strength of the company was now reduced to
twenty-six of all ranks, including the prisoners of war, but the
effectives of this number did not exceed ten.
Toulon was evacuated in the middle of December, 1793, and the remnant of
the army employed there soon afterwards landed in Corsica. With this
force the detachment of military artificers shared in the various
actions and sieges of that island, particularly at San Fiorenzo, Bastia,
Ajaccio, and Calvi. In directing the construction of the required works
and batteries, more especially at the lengthened siege of Calvi, their
services were highly spoken of by their officers and the assistant
engineers under whose instructions they for the most part acted; and
though so few in number, they were considered by the army to be most
useful and valuable soldiers.[96] Most of them were killed at San
Fiorenzo and Calvi, and the rest were wounded; of whom two privates only
survived. These two men, previously to the evacuation of Corsica in
October, 1796, were present at the capture of the Island of Elba, and in
January, 1797, returned with Lieutenant De Butts, royal engineers, to
Gibraltar.
-----
Footnote 96:
Lieutenant John Duncan, royal artillery, who was employed as assistant
engineer in the sieges of Toulon and Corsica, “often spoke,” writes
Lieutenant-General Birch, of the royal engineers, under date 22nd
August, 1848, “with the very utmost enthusiasm of the conduct of the
royal military artificers in these operations, and would delight to
dwell in describing their conduct as being fine, brave, and enduring.”
-----
Hostilities were resumed in Flanders as soon as the severity of the
winter had subsided. To compel the French to evacuate Flanders was now
the purpose of the allied commanders. To this end, on the 16th May, the
whole force made a forward movement. The column under the Duke of York,
to which the company of artificers was attached, marched to Lannoy and
then to Roubaix driving the enemy before it. On the 18th May the French,
making a determined stand, hotly pressed the British in front and rear
by an overwhelming force, and obliged his Royal Highness to resort to
the daring alternative of retreating through the enemy’s line, which he
accomplished, but with great loss. In this action the artificers had
four wounded, one missing—private John Smart—and seven taken
prisoners.[97]
-----
Footnote 97:
Privates Alexander Williamson, Archibald Douglas, Alexander Stewart,
Andrew Lindsay, David Morton, George Horn, and John Bristo.
-----
The Earl of Moira being appointed to command a corps intended to act on
the offensive against France, one sergeant, one corporal, twenty-one
artificers, and eight labourers of the home companies were selected to
accompany it. Early in January the detachment was forwarded to
Southampton and there encamped for several months, drilling with the
troops. Ultimately the destination of the expedition was changed, and
his lordship was directed to co-operate with the Duke of York. The
armament forthwith embarked, and sailing for Ostend, landed on the 26th
June. After a march of more than thirty days, executed with cheerful
resignation, the Earl of Moira effected a junction with the Duke of
York’s column at a time when, from the precarious situation of his Royal
Highness, an addition to his resources was imperatively needed. The
detachment of artificers with his lordship now joined Captain Mann’s
company, the strength of which, since the opening of the winter of the
previous year, had been reduced by deaths from eighty-two to seventy.
With the present increase the total of the corps in Holland amounted to
101 of all ranks; but of this number, many were no longer equal to the
fatigues of a campaign owing to the diseases contracted by them, from
unavoidable exposure, during a season of unusual inclemency; and several
suffering from incurable frostbites were placed in the category of
wounded men.
On the 12th May, 1795, the above company, transferred to the command of
Captain Johnson of the engineers, arrived at Woolwich. Its strength was
eighty-six, including its sergeant-major. Being no longer required for
foreign duty, the men were distributed among the Portsmouth and Gosport
companies and the Guernsey and Jersey half companies. Twelve were left
at Lisle sick and prisoners of war: three of them died, seven returned
to England at different periods and the other two—Private George Horn
and John Bristo—continued to be recorded as prisoners until February,
1797; when, not having rejoined their corps, they were struck off the
strength. By the reduction of the Flanders company the establishment of
the corps was diminished from 1,000 to 800 of all ranks.
About this period, a detachment of one sergeant, thirty-three
carpenters, and two drummers, under Captain C. Holloway, royal
engineers, was sent to Gravesend to make various repairs and additions
to the defences on the shores of the Thames, as the state of European
politics and our unsettled relations with France rendered these
precautionary measures absolutely indispensable. They were picked men,
of good qualification; and to distinguish them from the corps employed
at Woolwich, Purfleet, and Chatham, were permitted to wear a very long
fantastic feather of black, topped with crimson. Tilbury Fort and the
Blockhouse at Gravesend were thoroughly repaired by this detachment, and
the requisite arrangements and appliances for establishing a
communication across the Thames, by means of barges for the passage of
an army, were effected by them. They also constructed two batteries for
four 24-pounders each, with temporary wooden barracks for artillerymen
at Shornmead and Hop-Point, below Gravesend. These services were barely
finished when thirty of the detachment were recalled to join the
expeditions for St. Domingo and the Caribbee Islands. The party that
remained, was shortly afterwards increased to one sergeant and fifteen
carpenters. Detachments of varied strength were also employed in
strengthening the defences on the coast of Sussex, and in repairing the
castles at Hurst, Cowes, and Yarmouth.
Drunkenness and irregularity were now very prevalent in the corps. Many
of the men, from their abandoned habits, were insensible either to
advice or punishment: whilst others, whose moral conduct could not be
reproached, were negligent of that proper respect for personal
cleanliness and appearance which is one of the first considerations of a
soldier in every well-regulated regiment. In some degree to check these
evils, a few of the most incorrigible among the labourers were dismissed
from the corps, or were either turned over to the navy or sent to the
West Indies. But even these severe but necessary measures failed to
produce that wholesome impression on the habitual delinquents, which it
was reasonable to anticipate would be the result.
The first symptoms of disorder in the conduct of the men appeared when
they found they were liable to be sent abroad if occasion required their
services. Led by their constitution and employment to consider
themselves permanently settled, they were quite unprepared for any
innovation which had a tendency to subvert their position or to
interrupt the advancement of their individual interests. The married men
particularly received it with unequivocal dissatisfaction. Unwilling to
submit to the change, which struck at the root of their privileges,
several deserted; and others, not daring to involve themselves in the
consequences of so serious a step, remained only to drown their
discontent in dissipation, and bring discredit on the corps.
This was not the only source of demoralization. Ever since the formation
of the corps little or no attention had been paid to its military
efficiency. Discipline was almost entirely relinquished, and drill was
an unfashionable exercise. The former was relaxed on account of the men
being regarded more in the light of civilians than soldiers, and the
latter was nominally given up on the plea, that it was of far greater
public benefit to keep them constantly on the works than at drill. From
the leniency of the one, numbers paid but little regard to authority on
military matters, and were only too ready to evince a spirit of
disaffection when anything occurred to infringe upon liberties or
privileges that the usages of the corps had given them a sort of right
to enjoy; and from the neglect of the other, they were awkward and dirty
in appearance and slovenly in their attire. By the many well-intentioned
and orderly men in the corps, the laxity of the discipline and
infrequency of the drill were certainly recognized and appreciated as
indulgences; but the advantages bestowed were more than counterbalanced
by the evils they induced; for several men—not labourers only, but
artificers—distinguished by their abilities as tradesmen, but too
depraved to profit by the mildness of the discipline, plunged into all
the excesses of disorder and drunkenness. Yet, with all this misconduct
and want of training in soldierlike principle and bearing, they always
exhibited an active pride in their fair name as mechanics, and
committed, comparatively, but few offences on the works.
Another element in producing the irregularity complained of is traceable
to the manner in which the corps was recruited. From the difficulty of
obtaining good tradesmen with satisfactory testimonials of previous
conduct, the pernicious system of receiving men without characters was
resorted to. Ability as tradesmen was the great specific, conduct being
a non-essential qualification. Consequently, in the removals from the
line especially, many men were transferred to the military artificers,
whose dissolute habits rendered their influence both mischievous and
demoralizing, although, from their merits as mechanics, they were found
far too valuable to dismiss, and too useful to be subjected to a
protracted punishment.
But with all this dissipation and disorder there was much in the corps
to approve, much to admire. The non-commissioned officers, the majority
of the artificers, and a goodly number of the labourers were
well-conducted men, and upheld their military character and appearance
in a becoming manner. On the works, besides being able and expert
artificers, they were found to be industrious and efficient, supporting
and assisting their officers in every duty or enterprise of difficulty
or danger with readiness and zeal. Though differing from other troops in
many essential points, still there was much sterling worth in the royal
military artificers, rarely to be met with in any other corps in the
service.
Recourse to discipline and drill seemed to be the only chance of
preventing the increase of irregularity, and of permanently improving
the character and condition of the corps. At each of the stations the
experiment was now in partial operation, but, simultaneously with this
judicious effort, another measure had been effected which promised to be
of material advantage in bringing about the desired change. This was the
appointment, on the 15th May, of Lieutenant John Rowley of the royal
engineers, to be Regimental Adjutant to the corps. To each company, from
its formation, an adjutant had been and continued to be attached; who,
however, from the paramount importance of the works and other
circumstances, was too engrossed by his attention to professional duties
and details to be of much service to his company. The Regimental
Adjutant was stationed at Woolwich, and through him was carried on all
the correspondence of the corps. His office, however, was at
Westminster. To assist him, therefore, company sergeant-major Anthony
Haig, who was an excellent drill-master and a talented non-commissioned
officer, was promoted to be regimental sergeant-major on the Staff at
Woolwich with the pay of 3_s._ a-day.
These appointments were immediately followed by an alteration in the
system of recruiting as conducted by the officers commanding companies.
Experience had proved that such a system was detrimental to the corps,
and that its discontinuance would narrow the sources from which some of
the existing evils originated and were fed. With this view, the
particular charge of the service was intrusted to the Regimental
Adjutant. Recruits were now enlisted for general service, and when ready
to join the corps, were, in the first instance, sent to Woolwich. On
their arrival they were clothed, equipped, and subjected to the same
drilling as infantry soldiers under the sergeant-major and adjutant;
and, when trained, were posted to the companies, whether at home or
abroad, most in want of men. Even this slight modification produced a
more than corresponding improvement in the corps, and revived in some
degree, at the different stations, the discipline and drill. At
Portsmouth especially, at a later period, under Colonel Evelegh, who was
the first Adjutant of the corps and served with its companies at the
siege of Gibraltar—the disciplinary arrangements were so satisfactorily
enforced and sustained, that it was a custom for some years to remove
all the irregular men to that station, to place them under the operation
of a strict and wholesome surveillance. A few years after, about 1806,
to give the corps the advantage of manœuvring in masses, the
companies at Portsmouth and Gosport, with all the subaltern officers in
command, were, once a week during the summer months, brought together
for drill under their respective Adjutants—Lieutenants Hamilton and
Oldfield.
Woolwich now became the head-quarters of the corps, and all invalids
were ever after sent to it from the different stations for discharge,
instead of being disposed of, as heretofore, by the captains of
companies.
This year the working jacket was somewhat altered. Broad skirts with
pocket slashes were appended to it, and, for the sake of giving a more
military appearance to the men, a yellow worsted lace triangle was sown
between the two back buttons, and a frog was added to each side of the
collar. These ornaments on the sergeant’s jacket were of gold lace. The
hats of the privates were changed from white to black felt, and the
sergeants, in addition to the gold band, wore rosettes and crimson
plumes. See Plate VII. All ranks wore clothing of precisely similar
fabric.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
Royal Military Artificers Plate VII.
WORKING DRESS 1755 Printed by M & N Hanhart.
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1795-1796.
Companies to St. Domingo and the Caribbee Islands—Reduction of St.
Lucia—Conduct of company there—Gallantry in forming lodgment and
converting it into a battery—Attack on Bombarde—Distribution and
conduct of St. Domingo company—Mortality in the West Indies—Detachment
to Halifax, Nova Scotia—Dougal Hamilton—Detachments to Calshot Castle
and St. Marcou.
War, coupled with fever, had by this time made considerable havoc among
the troops in the West Indies, and reduced the force to a number totally
inadequate for the services of the different islands, much less to
resist efficiently the encroachments of a vigilant enemy, and check the
insurrectionary demonstrations of a disaffected negro population. In
some respects to supply this deficiency, reinforcements having been
applied for, two expeditions were fitted out at Spithead, and sailed in
November, 1795, under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, for St. Domingo and the
Windward Islands.
To each expedition a company of sixty non-commissioned officers and men
of the military artificers were attached, equipped with tools
appropriate to their trades, in addition to their arms. The company for
St. Domingo, under Lieutenant Crozier, royal engineers, was formed by
men drafted from the Woolwich and Chatham companies; and that for the
Caribbee Islands, under Lieutenant Gravatt, R.E., by men from the
Gosport, Portsmouth, and Plymouth companies.
Both companies arrived—after a long and dangerous passage, particularly
in clearing the Channel—in March, 1796. In disposing of the two
companies, Sir Ralph despatched, under Lieutenant Crozier, thirty-three
non-commissioned officers and privates, including two men who had been
prisoners of war at Guadaloupe, to St. Domingo, detaining the remainder
to act under himself with the Caribbean company, which now reached the
strength of seventy-seven of all ranks.
The reduction of St. Lucia was early the intention of Sir Ralph, and the
expedition accordingly sailed thither. The company of artificers, under
the command of Captain Hay, royal engineers, landed on the 26th April,
and at once were told off for the duties of the siege. In addition to
the construction of some extensive batteries to act against Morne
Fortuné, they superintended the formation of a communication by means of
a new road from Choc Bay to the Morne. By the 24th May the English had
pushed up to within 500 yards of the fort, and the garrison capitulated
on the 26th May.
From the nature of the ground and other circumstances, the operations
for the reduction of the fort were extraordinary and arduous, and the
exertions of the company conspicuous. These attracted the notice of Sir
Ralph, who, through the medium of Captain Hay, conveyed his thanks to
the military artificers for their good conduct and soldierlike behaviour
at the siege.
In the attack on the enemy’s advanced posts at Morne Fortuné on the 24th
May, a detachment of about twenty noncommissioned officers and men of
the company, under Lieutenant Fletcher, R.E., with handspikes, axes, and
picks, rushed gallantly forward and formed a lodgment, which was rapidly
converted into a battery of five 24-pounders to breach the body of the
place. The exertions of this party greatly contributed to the success of
the assault and to the fall of St Lucia. Lieutenant Fletcher was
wounded, as also two rank and file.[98] Of the other casualties in the
company from the opening of the siege to the assault no record has been
preserved.
-----
Footnote 98:
‘London Gazette Extraordinary,’ July 4th, 1796.
-----
The detachment of thirty-three non-commissioned officers and men, under
Lieutenant Crozier, R.E., arrived at Cape Nichola Mole, St. Domingo, on
the 2nd May, and Captain W. M‘Kerras, royal engineers, assumed the
command of it. On the 8th June following, about twenty of the party were
engaged in the attack on Bombarde, in which one private—John
M‘Donald—was mortally wounded, and one sergeant—Hugh Taylor—was taken
prisoner.[99] On the 11th June, the St. Domingo detachment was further
increased by the arrival from St. Lucia of one sergeant and fourteen
privates under Lieutenant Stewart.
-----
Footnote 99:
‘London Gazette,’ 23rd to 26th July, 1796; takes notice of the private
wounded, but not of the sergeant taken prisoner.
-----
Of the ulterior active services of this detachment, nothing can be
satisfactorily traced. It was, seemingly, broken up into small parties,
and disposed of at St. Marc, Jeremie, Grande Ance, the Mole, and Port au
Prince, superintending under their officers, the execution of various
works which were deemed essential for defence, on account of the arrival
at Cape François of Rochambeau, Santhonax, and several other republicans
of consequence. In these and former works the men seem to have exerted
themselves with zeal, and to have obtained commendation for their good
conduct. “Indeed, I must say,” writes Captain M‘Kerras to Sir William
Green, the chief engineer, under date July, 1796, “that I have never
seen a better set of people in every respect and manner than they were.”
To a great extent the fever still prevailed in the West Indies, and had
raged fearfully during the months of June and July. It was not confined
to any particular island, but was general throughout the group. Never
had a more melancholy scene of mortality attended any expedition than
befel those to St. Domingo and the Windward Islands. Of the company of
military artificers at the former island, twenty-five had died in June
and July alone, and by the end of the year it was reduced to nineteen
men only. The Caribbee Islands' company, during the same period,
suffered still more severely; inasmuch as it was diminished from
seventy-seven to thirty-one of all ranks; whilst the company that served
at the captures of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Gaudaloupe, in 1794, had
frittered away by deaths and invaliding to eighteen non-commissioned
officers and men.[100] Of the survivors more than half were
incapacitated for duty from sickness, and, consequently, the services of
the department pressed very heavily upon the effectives. On the 1st
September the remnants of the two latter companies were amalgamated, and
reached a total of 49 of all ranks.
-----
Footnote 100:
Lieutenant, afterwards Lieutenant-General, Evatt, who served with the
company in Sir Charles Grey’s campaign of 1794, writes thus of it:
“The dreadful sickness then prevailing left few or none of the men
after its conclusion, and it might with truth be said, they came out,
did their duty, and died!”
-----
In June a detachment of one sergeant, two corporals and twenty
artificers, embarked for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the classes of
tradesmen most needed for the works could not be obtained except at
extravagantly high wages. Some care was therefore taken to select
mechanics fully equal to the requirements of the settlement. The
detachment landed in September following, and Captain James Straton,
commanding royal engineer, was appointed to command it. Various works
were in progress at the time of their arrival, to which they were
distributed according to circumstances; but the service upon which they
were chiefly employed was the erection of the lighthouse in Halifax
harbour. Over this work, private Dougal Hamilton, a very intelligent and
skilful mason, was appointed foreman, and acquitted himself throughout
with credit. Subsequently, when about to quit the province as an
invalid, H.R.H. Prince Edward ordered his immediate disembarcation, and
placed him at the disposal of the treasurer of the settlement, by whom
he was employed as a foreman in building the Shelburne Lighthouse on the
coast of Halifax.
Early in the spring a party of the Portsmouth company was detached to
Calshot Castle to repair and strengthen it; and another from the
Guernsey half company, to renew the defences at the Island of St.
Marcou. In carrying on the works at the latter place, privates Roger
Hambly and Hugh M‘Laughlin were dreadfully wounded by the explosion of a
mine in the execution of their duty.
1797.
Detachments to Portugal—To Dover—Transfers to the Artillery—Enlistment
of artificers only—Incorporation of Gibraltar companies with the
corps—Capture of Trinidad—Draft to West Indies—Failure at Porto
Rico—Fording the lagoon, by private D. Sinclair—Private W. Rogers at
the bridge St. Julien—Saves his officer—Casualties by fever in
Caribbean company—Filling up company at St. Domingo with
negroes—Mutinies in the fleet at Portsmouth—Conduct of Plymouth
company—Émeute in the Royal Artillery, Woolwich—Increase of
pay—Marquis Cornwallis’s approbation of the corps—Mutiny at the
Nore—Consequent removal of detachment to Gravesend—Alterations in
dress.
Early in January, Lieutenant F. W. Mulcaster, R.E., with a party of one
sergeant, one corporal, five artificers, and four labourers of the
Woolwich company, embarked for Portugal to join the force under the
command of Lieutenant-General Charles Stuart, which was sent to that
country for the purpose of preventing its invasion by the armies of
France or Spain. The nature of the service did not call for any display
of character, and the detachment being withdrawn in October 1798,
immediately proceeded with the expedition to Minorca.
In February one corporal and seven miners of the Plymouth company were
detached to Dover to carry on the mining operations at that station
under Captain H. Bruyeres, R.E. They were farther increased in October
to two corporals, eleven artificers, ten labourers, and one drummer, as
well to conduct the mining as to assist in repairing the works on the
Western Heights. A detachment was also sent from this company to
Berryhead near Torbay, to erect fortifications.
A great deficiency occurring in the numerical establishment of the royal
artillery, the Master-General desired that as many of the labourers of
the corps of artificers as were anxious to avail themselves of the
opportunity of transferring their services to that regiment, should be
permitted to do so. The transferring continued from March to May, and
the corps was thus reduced sixty-seven men, each of whom received one
guinea on being accepted by the Artillery.[101]
-----
Footnote 101:
One of these labourers, John Alexander, enlisted in the Chatham
company 15th July, 1796, and was transferred 1st April, 1797. Forty
years afterwards he was commissioned as quartermaster in the royal
horse artillery, and after eleven years' service in that rank, retired
on full-pay in 1847, and died in 1854.
-----
This reduction in the establishment of the labourers was followed in
August by an order, that the recruiting for the corps should be limited
to the artificer part only. Labourers and men not bred to the regulated
trades were no longer enlisted, and every artificer so enlisting only
received the bounty and subsistence of a labourer, until he had been
approved as a competent artificer. This was a wholesome precaution, as
those enlisted under the assumed name of mechanics were continued as
labourers, until industry and improvement had rendered them worthy of
advancement.
In June the soldier-artificer corps at Gibraltar was incorporated with
the royal military artificers. Ever since its formation in 1772 it had
held a distinct position, and was an integral body of itself. Its
establishment was two companies of 5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 2 drummers,
and 125 private artificers each, with 1 sergeant-major to both
companies; but its actual strength on the amalgamation was only 255 of
all ranks. In the regular monotonous routine of that garrison there was
little occasion for their services except as artificers. At this period
their conduct was far from commendable. Much addicted to drunkenness,
they were the constant subjects of courts-martial; but on the works,
under the eye of their officers, they behaved well and were very good
mechanics, particularly the non-commissioned officers, who, besides,
were skilful foremen. By the incorporation of these companies with the
corps, it was increased from 801 to 1,075 of all ranks; but its actual
strength only reached 759 men.
Sir Ralph Abercrombie having resolved to make an attempt on the island
of Trinidad, an expedition under himself and Admiral Harvey sailed
accordingly from Martinique on the 12th February. To this force were
attached one sergeant-major, two corporals, and nineteen artificers,
under Major Charles Shipley, and Lieutenants Gravatt and Lefebure, royal
engineers. From an accident by fire, which consumed the enemy’s ships on
the night preceding the morning arranged for the attack, the island
became an easy conquest and surrendered by capitulation on the 18th
February.
Soon after the taking of this island, a detachment under Lieutenant
Ford, R.E., of three sergeants, two corporals, and twenty privates,
drafted from the Portsmouth company, landed and joined Major Shipley’s
company at Martinique, the strength of which, with the increase,
amounted to sixty-five of all ranks.
Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Admiral Harvey now assembled an expedition
against Porto Rico and landed there on the 17th April. The company of
artificers furnished about forty non-commissioned officers and men for
this service, including Lieutenant Ford’s party. Here they constructed,
assisted by a party of the 14th regiment, two batteries, one for mortars
and the other for guns. A large magazine abandoned by the enemy, was
also partially converted into a battery for two mortars, but its
completion was relinquished in consequence of the ordnance intended to
arm the battery having been swamped in a morass in crossing.
Notwithstanding the exertions made to reduce the place, the enterprise
failed, and the troops were withdrawn on the 30th April. Previously,
however, to effecting the evacuation, the artificers, to prevent the
enemy following in the retreat, destroyed the bridge which connected the
island of St. Julien with the main; and afterwards hastily reared a
breastwork of sandbags to cover the embarkation, which, however, was not
required, as the expedition was suffered to leave the island unmolested.
The casualties in the military artificers were five privates killed,
viz., Joseph Featherstone, George Clark, Samuel Hague, George Winter,
and John Cameron, and four severely wounded; besides about twenty more
who sustained slight contusions or mutilations.[102]
-----
Footnote 102:
In the ‘London Gazette,’ 3rd to 6th June, 1797, the killed only are
noticed.
-----
Among the measures suggested for reducing Porto Rico was one for taking
the town, by forcing the troops through the lagoon bounding the east
side of the island. Before the project could be entertained, it was
considered advisable to ascertain if the stream were fordable. An
officer of Sir Ralph’s staff having requested permission to undertake
the service, he was voluntarily accompanied by private David Sinclair of
the military artificers. In the night, at the appointed hour, both
entered the lagoon together, each provided with a long staff. With this
support they probed their adventurous way, and at length succeeded in
gaining the opposite slope; where, standing near one of the redoubts
which defended a broken bridge, they distinctly heard the vigilant
sentinels talking and walking on their beats. With the same caution as
before, they picked their course back again, and then coolly repeated
the duty without the aid of props. The officer reported the ford to be
fully practicable, and at the same time lauded the intrepidity of the
soldier who accompanied him. Thereupon Sir Ralph praised him for his
gallantry and rewarded him with a johannes—a piece of eight dollars. The
idea of making the assault by passing the stream was given up, in
consequence of the British force being too weak to cope with an enemy
powerful in men and means, and almost impregnable in position. Sinclair
died the 28th July, 1797, and during his short career in the West
Indies, an officer under whom he served has left this testimony to his
worth, “that he was ever conspicuous in every service.”
Determined upon relinquishing Porto Rico, Sir Ralph ordered Lieutenant
C. Lefebure, of the royal engineers, with a detachment of the
artificers, early in the morning of the 30th April, to repair to the
bridge which connected the island of St. Julien with the Main and
demolish it, for the purpose of preventing the Spaniards following and
harassing the army during the retreat. The bridge was an old crazy
structure of stone consisting of nine arches. All were directed to work
at the road-way of the centre arch, but to private William Rogers, at
his particular request, was assigned the difficult and dangerous duty of
dislodging the key stone. The ground was soon harrowed up, a gap made
across the middle, several stones were removed from the pier-heads, and
the bridge exhibited signs of instability. Nothing daunted, Rogers
boldly stepped upon the crown of the arch, and after a few heavy blows
with his pickaxe, scooped the stone from its bed. At once the arch gave
way; and the others leaning towards it, cracked as though torn by an
earthquake and fell beneath him. Rogers’s situation was one of imminent
peril, but with a fearlessness that was remarkable, he plunged from the
crumbling bridge into the stream, and was fortunately preserved from any
serious harm, whilst five of his comrades were crushed to death by the
fall; four also were severely wounded; and all the rest, save corporal
William Robinson, were injured.
Nor was this all. Rogers swam about the heap to afford help to those who
were suffering and dying. It was yet dark, and the thick dust still
rising from the fall, made the darkness denser. Groping, therefore,
among the ruins, he found an individual who still had signs of life,
struggling, ineffectually, to free himself from some massive fragments
that entangled him. Rogers set to work to release the drowning man: this
he quickly accomplished, and, swimming with his charge to the shore, the
rescued turned out to be his own officer—Lieutenant Lefebure. The life
of that gallant subaltern, however, was only prolonged to fall a
sacrifice to his heroism on the walls of Matagorda in 1810. Rogers’s
exertions were not confined to his officer only, for several of his
comrades who were precipitated into the water and were unable to swim,
he saved, assisted by those of the party who had sustained but trivial
injuries.
A desolating epidemic still raged in the Caribbee Islands and greatly
diminished the numbers of the company. In November particularly, the
climate was extremely hot and unhealthy and the deaths by fever
considerable. During the year the casualties were, deaths, thirty-one,
of which fifteen occurred in November; sent home invalided, six;
deserted, two; total, thirty-nine; leaving the company, of all ranks,
only thirty-three strong at the end of the year.
At St. Domingo the great want of artificers for the service of the
engineering department being severely felt, Captain McKerras, R.E., in
February, represented the expediency of keeping up the company with
negroes. The number of the military artificers then serving in the
colony was nineteen of all ranks, a third of whom were constantly unfit
for any kind of duty, suffering as they did from over exertion and
frequent relapses of remitting fever. To Europeans the climate was “the
most pernicious and abominable in the universe,” and none but the
strongest could at all bear up against its influences. To fill up the
vacancies in the company, therefore, by drafts of mechanics from
England, would have incurred a heavy outlay without reaping a
commensurate return. Considerations like these prompted Captain McKerras
to suggest the measure, and he was further influenced by the conviction,
that, since civil labour could not be procured in the colony unless at
an enormous expense, that of the slave would, after receiving
instructions from the present climatized artificers of the company, be
found of great advantage to St. Domingo, and a vast saving to the
public. The slave artificer was to receive food, clothing, and barrack
accommodation, but no pay. Whatever attention may have been paid to the
proposal, certain it is, that the company was never recruited by blacks.
This probably arose from the island having been abandoned in the autumn
of 1798.[103]
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Footnote 103:
Sir Charles Pasley, in the prefatory notes to his work on ‘Elementary
Fortification,’ vol. i., p. 4, writes of the inefficiency and
misconduct of detachments sent on foreign service, and concludes his
observations by saying, “I am told in the West Indies, it had actually
been proposed to employ negroes as engineer soldiers.” If the above is
the recommendation Sir Charles alludes to, he has either been
misinformed of the reasons for that proposal, or he has mistaken them;
for the detachment was composed of good non-commissioned officers and
well-qualified artificers from the Woolwich and Chatham companies; and
in the discharge of their several duties, gave every satisfaction to
their officers. The proposal was dictated by humanity, as well as with
a view to the prospective advantage of the public, and in no respect
originated in the misbehaviour or inefficiency of the men.
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The memorable mutinies in the fleet at Spithead at this time were
followed by the rising of some unprincipled men, who, as emissaries of
revolt, traversed the country endeavouring by every device to shake the
allegiance of the soldiery. Efforts of this kind were also attempted
with the royal military artificers, particularly at the ports, but
beyond a few desertions, without effect. Most of the companies publicly
opposed these agencies; but the Plymouth company in an especial manner
distinguished itself by its open and soldierlike activity against their
disloyal exertions.
The document,[104] printed by the company and widely circulated through
Devonshire, was sent by Major-General Mercer, captain of the company, to
Lord Cornwallis the Master-General; who expressed very great
satisfaction with the loyal sentiments it avowed, and highly approved of
the spirit and zeal of the men in giving the declaration publicity at so
opportune a moment.
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Footnote 104: